HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-09-26, Page 20.'
Who is Canada's biggest
advertising spender?
Coke or Pepsi? Food com-
panies? Beer companies?
Nope. The federal govern-
ment spent more money tell-
ing us what it is doing with
our money than anyone else.
Yet Revenue Canada could
not find enough money to
publicize a tax change of con-
siderable benefit to a number
of farmers.
Under the policy change,
the tax department agreed to
cancel part of re -assessments
made against some farmers.
Those affected are people
whom the tax department
decided had no reasonable ex-
pectation of profit and are
now eligible for refunds or
lower tax bills. The revisions
are made "on the basis that
ne foot in the
furrow' bye
letters M• rpp.cut d Or Sob Trojti, (kW* Rd time Om N30 /C1
additional time is being
granted to determine whether
there is a reasonable expecta-
tion of profit," says a memo
of July 17 which means
farmers have a longer period
of time in which to claim
losses.
The policy underscores a
contention I have had for
years.
Many farmers are in the
same boat as writers and ar-
tists. They do not know how
much they will get for their
products when sold.
A freelance writer, for in-
stance, submits a story to an
editor. If accepted, the fee is
just what the editor feels like
paying that day. If he got up
on the wrong side of the bed,
he may authorized a cheque
for 8100 when the last story
i
BIG DAY -- Joe Gower enjoyed considerable success
in the calf club shows at the local fair. This steer won
the 4-H Beef Club conformation championship and his
entry in the Feeder Calf Club was reserve champion.
about the same length
brought 8200. The same with
cattlemen. The farmer gets
no set price. It is up to the
vagaries of the marketplace.
The new policy was
specifically designed for ar-
tists' and writers but farmers
-- and others with a small
business -- can take advan-
tage of it. For the farmers af-
fected and for others whose
losses were disallowed
originally, Revenue Canada
has agreed to -- as their
jargon puts it -- "vacate" the
re -assessments for three and
four years.
The release on the policy
change was greeted by the ar-
tistic communities across
Canada with enthusiasm.
They had been lobbying for a
change. When the release hit
the news, though, few
farmers were aware of it. In
fact, it was done so discreet-
ly that even the Canadian
Federation of Agriculture did
not know about it.
The assistant deputy
minister for Revenue Canada
admitted that the publicity
was probably not as thorough
as it should have been. It
made clear that artists and
writers would be re -assessed
but, lumped farmers in with
a phrase that said "in other
cases involving the
reasonable expectation of
profit rule, where the tax-
payers cannot be
automatically identified, the
department will be prepared
to refund the re -assessed
earlier portion of the taxes to
ratepayers who request ad-
justment." In other words,
farmers who request it.
It seems to me this is just
another indicatiod"' dT 'how
farmers continue to be ig-
nored by senior levels . of
government. The agricultural
sector steams along, produc-
ing mountains of food, adding
much to Canada's balance of
trade, providing jobs for
thousands of people, becom-
ing pillars of their com-
munities, yet being taken for
granted by politicians and
bureaucrats.
Getting this re -assessment
could mean the difference
between keeping some people
on the land or forcing them
off. It could make or break
some young men and women
who are trying to get started
in an agricultural enterprise
whle working off the farm in
some other capacity.
Yet Revenue Canada issues
policy change with inade-
quate publicity, a policy
which may seem innocuous to
them but could be of major
importance to many, which
could save considerable
money for many farmers.
Just another slap in the face
for the agricultural sector.
EXEJK 'irr'
PRESENTS RIBBONS — Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff was on hand at the Exeter
Fair to present ribbons to the top entrants in the Feeder Calf Club. With him from
the left are junior showmanship winner Michael Hern, senior showman Murray Run-
dle and exhibitor of the top calf, Catherine Johns. The latter received $1.59 a pound
for her entry from The Tenderspot in spirited bidding for the members' calves.
Times -Advocate, September 26,1984 Pogo 5A
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